Implications of recent research for program quality in cocaine dependence treatment

Great strides have been made in recent years regarding the development and evaluation of treatments for cocaine dependence. In particular, several behavioral strategies have been developed with demonstrated effectiveness for diverse populations of cocaine-dependent individuals. These include contingency management, cognitive behavioral treatments, and manualized individual disease model approaches. In addition, large-scale client surveys have identified several correlates of good outcome in the treatment of cocaine dependence, including retention in treatment, increasing compliance, providing services and treatments that address the patient's comorbid psychosocial problems, and encouraging involvement in self-help groups. Finally, greater adoption by treatment providers of strategies commonly used in treatment efficacy research might also contribute to improved treatment quality.